Photo: Killer Whale Catnap Northern Vancouver Island

The mist from a lonely male Killer Whale lingers in the sunset lighting while he decides to take a catnap in the waters off Northern Vancouver Island.

A yellow glow spans the sky at sunset, twinkling off the surface off the water off Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, while a Killer Whale decides to take a catnap. A Killer Whale has been seen taking short catnaps but has also been observed sleeping for periods of up to eight hours at a time.

Many studies have been done on why, when and how a Killer Whale sleeps, but the sleeping pattern or catnaps are still largely a mystery. Killer Whales have been caught taking a catnap at many different times throughout the day. There is no rhyme or reason to their pattern but it has been noted that while a Killer Whale is resting, they may swim along slowly making short dives of less than a minute each and then making a long dive which can be up to three minutes in length.

Whale off Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, Orcas at sunset

This picture is part of the photo album "Killer Whale Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.